nielsen ratings(fast national numbers for thursday, september 13, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (8.25 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) was the top demo draw on Thursday with night two of "The X Factor" (8.41 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.1, #2) premiere followed by the return of "Glee" (8.09 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.3, #1).

In what's becoming a familiar refrain this fall, both shows returned down from their previous openers on 9/22/11 (11.43 million viewers; adults 18-49: 3.9) and 9/20/11 (8.91 million viewers; adults 18-49: 3.8), respectively.

NBC (9.02 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then had to settle for second place despite the two-hour season finale of "America's Got Talent" (10.51 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #3) plus the season opener to "Rock Center With Brian Williams" (6.02 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #7).

And finally, The CW (0.87 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night with a repeat of "The Vampire Diaries" (1.03 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #12) and a new "The Next" (0.71 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13).
In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), "The Vampire Diaries" delivered a 0.5 rating while "The Next" posted a 0.2 rating.

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.5/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 1.8/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.6/6; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.4/2 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.8/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

· At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.0/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/15/11):

Next up was The CW (2.99 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) which claimed a rare bronze with the return of "The Vampire Diaries" (2.99 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T5) and the series premiere of "The Secret Circle" (2.99 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.3, #7). "Circle" posted the largest original audience in its time period since "Nikita" on 9/23/10.

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 3.1/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.1/5 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.7/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.6/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.7/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.